Director Gus Van Sant has created a poignant portrait, warts and all – the true story of the American cartoon-satirist, the late John Callahan.
The characters are a diverse lot – some dregs, all diamonds – the performances touching, the direction skilled and straight from the heart. And this is one of Joaquin Phoenix’s finest hours, seamlessly morphing to Callahan in all his forms with ease.
Van Sant’s latest is an accomplished addition to the director’s existing inventory of offerings. successfully tracking the residue wreckage of childhood abandonment and alcohol abuse, capped off by a car accident resulting in severe disability – then adding redemption and forgiveness in a credible work, at times straight-up freakin funny.
*** Opening feature image of Joachin Phoenix and Rooney Mara, from the Amazon Studios film `Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot’ 2018 ***